A PROMISE TESTED BY TIME AND DESIRE

CHAPTER FIVE

Refocusing on her task, she decided on six rocks that would be a good start for lining the rows in the garden. Some were smooth and round, others jagged and sparkling with gold; each had a unique characteristic that made it special. She knew she was particular about certain things. She was careful and thoughtful in her selections, and she chose each for a reason. After all, these rocks were from King’s Creek, and that alone was reason to be appreciative rather than hasty. She knelt down to place the rocks in her knapsack and squinted up at the sun. She had completely lost track of time. Had she been here thirty minutes, or maybe even an hour? The midday sun was warm on her face and she wished she had brought the canteen with her.

A quick cooling wade in the cove would be just what she needed before heading back to the pines.

While rolling up her pant legs, she found herself wishing, for once, that she was wearing a dress. In fact, wading in creeks might be the only reason to wear a dress. They certainly weren’t good for anything else. Once her dungarees were rolled as high as she could get them, she slowly tip-toed into the water. The chilling bite of the cold was only temporary as she continued in deeper and deeper. Her overalls began to get heavy, and her feet slightly sank into the soft mud, making it difficult to take each step. She was waist deep when she giggled and asked herself out loud,

“Why did I even roll my pants to begin with?”

And that was when she heard a twig snap behind the big willow tree.

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Amelie froze midstep. Did she really hear that, or just imagine it? She was talking when it happened, so she couldn’t be certain she really heard something. She stared at the willow tree, just waiting, and hoping for confirmation that her imagination was playing tricks on her.

But her eyes flew open in disbelief as her question was answered. The low-hanging willow tree branches began to thrash back and forth, snapping and cracking. Amelie could not breathe. Crashing through the brush, and now staring at her, was a monstrous brown bear. The bear seemed as surprised as Amelie to be sharing the cove. More twig snaps made them break eye contact and look toward the noise. Clumsily tromping through the thicket, a bear cub bumbled over to his mother’s side. The baby didn’t seem to notice Amelie, or if he did, he didn’t much care. He stuck his muzzle in the cool water and snorted and sneezed after he sucked water in through his nose. He backed up slightly and came to attention only when his mother grumbled at him. She stared fiercely once again at Amelie.

Amelie had never seen a bear before, let alone been face to face less than ten feet away. She knew bears lived in these mountains, and she had heard old stories of bears killing chickens or breaking into a shed where a deer carcass hung. But bear sightings were rare, and, for the most part, bears weren’t a concern to most folks. Despite her lack of concern for bears prior to this moment, Amelie knew this was a terrible situation. A lone bear was bad, but a mother bear with her cub spelled disaster for the misfortunate soul who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. And right now, that was Amelie.

“Okay, Amelie,” she said to herself, “don’t panic. Think.”

She drew in a deep breath and scanned the cove. She was smack dab in the middle of the pool, the shore behind her at least fifteen feet away. She racked her memory. Was she supposed to freeze, run, or scream and wave her arms crazily? Turning and trying to run would not only be impossible because of her weighted legs and sinking feet, but it would probably be the biggest mistake she could make. Whether on land or in water, she was no match for a bear if it came after her. Her best chance would be not to run, necessarily, but not to allow the bear to attack her without putting up a fight.

“Slow, slow, slow,” she whispered to herself as she lifted her leg from the sand and took one step back.

The mother bear was furious at Amelie’s decision. She opened her mouth wide and loosed a horrific growl as she lifted her head high in the air.

Fear dug its nails into Amelie as she noticed how wide the bear’s mouth opened and the gleam of the sharp white teeth revealed by the snarling lips.

The bear stared back at Amelie and snorted and stomped her front feet at the water’s edge, snapping willow branches as easily as if they were pieces of straw.

Amelie couldn’t move. Panic gripped her throat and threatened to squeeze until she could no longer breathe. Just then, Will’s face flashed in her mind and she heard his words from earlier: “Straight to the creek, get your rocks, and straight back.” What if that was the last time she would ever see him?

As tears began to well in her eyes, a whizzing sound and brush of air flew just past her cheek. In nearly the same moment, the mother bear’s ferociousness buckled and she yelped as a rock hit her squarely in the eye. Amelie spun around to face the shore behind her.

There he was. Will. Down on one knee with his slingshot c****d and one eye steadily focused on the bear.

“Get down, Amelie!” he screamed as another rock pelted the mother in the face.

Without even thinking, Amelie gulped a big breath of air and sunk into the darkness of the water. She turned toward the shore and with a few strokes underwater could finally feel herself climbing out and onto the muddy bank. Brushing her hair from her eyes, she turned just in time to see the mother bear backtracking around the willow tree and through the brush beyond it. In a few seconds, all was silent except for the gurgling creek and the echoing knock of a woodpecker deep in the forest.

Amelie stood to run toward Will, but her feet refused to move. Will was running at full speed toward her. Their eyes met and everything was still and quiet until he finally reached her. She fell into his arms and began sobbing uncontrollably on his shoulder.

“Will, you...you saved me! How did you know?” Amelie was crying so hard that she could hardly breathe; fear wasn’t ready to release its hold.

“Shhh. It’s okay now, Amelie. Shhh. I’m here, nothing will hurt you now.”

Will’s words were so strong and sure, yet Amelie could detect a slight quiver in his voice. She buried her face in his neck and held on to him until she could feel herself calm and her shaking subside. He kept his arms wrapped around her until she gradually stopped crying. Although the ordeal was over, he seemed in no hurry to let her go. He had never held her this way before. His arms around her kindled a rush of inexplicable emotions. The feeling of Will protecting her was unlike anything she expected.